la Balena
Junipero between Fifth and Sixth, Carmel
250-6295, www.labalenacarmel.com
When chefs—you know, those moody mad scientists who sacrifice time, treasure and sanity to make you and your belly happy—keep saying their favorite place is one and the same, you have a truly transcendent thing going. So it is with the Whale (in Italian), which swallows loyal diners whole with rustic meats and pastas by Brad Briske. (Try the grilled octopus or bone marrow puttanesca for a quick idea of the goodies he’s getting down with.) Some of the best foodie news all 2015: la Balena adding il Grillo, which builds upon the legacy with a more casual but no less delicious format while allowing Briske to do more whole animal butchery and creativity.